The RMR is a certification test given by the National Court Reporting Association. In order to apply for the RMR skills test, a reporter must be a RPR and a NCRA member. In order to apply for the RMR written knowledge test, a reporter must be an RPR and have 3 years or current and continuous membership in the NCRA, starting from participating or registered member status.

The Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) examination consists of skills test and a written knowledge test. The written knowledge test is comprised of 105-110 questions that is based on the following four categories (with accompanying percentages of the questions):
Reporting Knowledge(47%)
Transcript production (41%)
Administration (6%)
Professional issues and continuing education (6%)
The written knowledge test is graded on a scaled score, with a passing rate of 70%. This test has a completion time of 90 minutes.

The skills portion of the RMR is based on three testing areas which must each be passed with 95% accuracy with an allotted transcription time of 75 minutes for each category. The categories are as follows:
1) 200 wpm Lit
2) 240 wpm Jury Charge
3) 260 wpm Q & A

The traditional way of indicating colloquy between attorneys is STPHAO and SKWRAO. These are the designations that I have been taught in school. STPHAO for the plaintiff’s attorney; SKWRAO for the defendant’s attorney. However, after reading “The Deposition Handbook,” I learned of another way to indicate colloquy between attorneys that I think I will implement from now on.

The book suggests writing STPHAO for the attorney on your left and EUFPLT for the attorney on your right, during colloquy. I find this helpful because it is easier for me to type along with the visual. This eliminates hesitation for me. This technique also makes it easier for me to deal with designations for multiple speakers.

*UPDATE*
My twitter friend @CaptionBabe, came up with a genius alternative to using EUFPLT as a colloquy designation. Her alternative won’t conflict with the use of EUFPLT as, “I.”
Her suggestion was to add a final -D do EUFPLT when using that stroke as a colloquy designation. I tried it out and @CaptionBabe’s alternative flows perfectly. It’s not a difficult, or awkward stroke at all. I will definitely be implementing her suggestion into my writing.